Alumni, faculty advance Kentucky mathematics education
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 28, 2025) — In classrooms across Kentucky, teachers work with students to make math click. Creating those “aha” moments was the focus of three University of Kentucky College of Education alumni when they attended CPM’s Academy of Best Practices this summer.
Now back in their Central Kentucky classrooms, teachers Abbi Parham, Haley Jacobsen and Zoe Smedley are applying what they learned to inspire students to be lifelong learners.
They were joined at the academy by UK College of Education associate professor Lisa Amick, Ed.D. Amick is studying how the academy impacts early career teachers.
“Retention is not an accident. When we invest in early career teachers with high-quality learning and community, they invest back in our students and our state,” Amick said.
Smedley, a 2025 UK STEM Plus graduate, said the experience gave her confidence that her goals for making an impact in math education are within reach.
“I hope educators continue to push for critical thinking in the classroom, especially in math,” she said. “I use math in my everyday life and I want my students to realize how powerful of a tool it actually can be.”
Parham, a fourth-year teacher and fellow UK STEM Plus alum, said the academy pushed her to think more deeply about feedback.
“I believe giving students written feedback that makes them think and challenges them will increase their knowledge,” Parham said.
For Jacobsen, the academy was a full-circle moment. She first encountered CPM during a Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at UK and has continued to build on that experience. She attended the academy this year as a mentor.
“In 2024, I attended this conference as a participant and left with newfound confidence and passion as I started my third year teaching. My experience as a participant, along with my desire to never stop growing, led me to apply for the mentor leadership position for 2025. I was beyond excited to be awarded this opportunity,” she said.
Jacobsen focuses on student-centered instruction in mathematics education.
“Being at the conference reinforced how important it is for the students to do the thinking and how impactful meaningful collaboration can be in the classroom,” Jacobsen said.
Across their classrooms, the common thread is clear: math is more than equations — it is a way to think critically, collaborate and understand the world. By putting students at the center of learning and leveraging the tools and knowledge they gained at UK, Parham, Jacobsen and Smedley are helping to elevate the quality of mathematics education, both in Kentucky and nationally.
The academy featured nationally recognized voices in mathematics education, including National Council of Teachers President Latrenda Knighten, Desmos CEO Eli Luberoff, and educational leader and consultant Pamela Seda, Ph.D.
Applications for next summer’s academy will open in early 2026.
“Any math teacher in their first five years is encouraged to apply,” Amick said.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.